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Kalmah - 12 Gauge review



Reviewer:
6.7

473 users:
8.11
Band: Kalmah
Album: 12 Gauge
Release date: February 2010


01. Rust Never Sleeps
02. One Of Fail
03. Bullets Are Blind
04. Swampwar
05. Better Not To Tell
06. Hook The Monster
07. Godeye
08. 12 Gauge
09. Sacramentum
10. Cold Sweat [Thin Lizzy cover] [Japanese bonus]

Melodic death metal
Finland
Spinefarm Records

Line-up on the CD:
Pekka Kokko - vocals, guitar
Antti Kokko - lead guitar
Timo "Lede" Lehtinen - bass
Marco Sneck - keyboards
Janne Kusmin - drums


Alas, the almighty swamp metal titans Kalmah grace us with their sixth full-length release, entitled 12 Gauge. (Before listening to this album I was immediately turned off by the name of the album.) Ever one to worry about band's changing directions for the worst (see: Cryptopsy's The Unspoken King), the hairs stood up slightly on my neck upon reading the title of an album named after everyone's least favorite gun to use in Counter-Strike - next to the Ingram MAC-10 at least. Needless to say, I was pleased to discover Kalmah continued with their efforts regarding melodic death metal, further establishing themselves as one of metal's most popular and talented outfits.

So what gives? I know one should never invest such an interest in the title of an album (looking at you, Ozzy fans), but Kalmah have made a career based on their self-appointed swamp metal, and now we're listening to an album named after a gun that doesn't even relate to the grime and gruel of a swamp?! Bah! Onto the music...

12 Gauge is an incredibly energetic release from the outset - "Rust Never Sleeps" kicks things off with epic melodies, P. Kokko's immense growls, and some very nice (though slightly cheesy) keyboard work. And those are the defining characteristics on which this album is built: melody, growls, keyboards, rinse and repeat. Throw in some of the edge from thrash metal and we're good to go.

Early Children Of Bodom anyone?

Kalmah's strongest asset is undoubtedly their intensity, which is ever present, made more so by the battle-anthem worthy "Bullets Are Blind" and the self-titled track's fist-pumping conclusion. While the album contains various filler tracks throughout, there is enough aggression and charisma to surpass the somewhat disappointing For The Revolution, though this is still a far cry from the grandeur of their back catalog. There seems to be an overall shortage of outstanding moments on this album, and unfortunately that hampers the efforts of these renowned Finns. It isn't completely generic or over-the-top "been there, done that", but the addition of another instrument or vocalist could shake things up enough for Kalmah to continue as a relevant melodic death metal outfit. That, or focus on improving the guitar solos. A. Kokko has proven his capability as a guitarist and inherently as a talented soloist, but his work on this release seems forced and uninspired.

Without any indication of evolution, Kalmah is poised to become the next Dark Tranquillity: repetitive song structures and unaltered production, but somehow still accessible enough to please the vast majority of metalheads.

Maybe the band members are preparing something special for their next release.

Maybe the swamp has finally dried up.


Website: http://www.myspace.com/kalmahofficial


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 7
Originality: 6
Production: 7





Written on 25.07.2010 by I'm total pro; that's what I'm here for.


Comments page 3 / 3

Comments: 80   Visited by: 513 users
03.07.2011 - 20:15
mige
Account deleted
Written by Daniell on 03.07.2011 at 19:56

Written by Guest on 03.07.2011 at 19:50

"stop your crying and whining"
ok i'll when u give ur staff members their bottles of milk and change their pampers cuz they crying louder....

btw i'll respect u marcel cuz am always respects who older than me ,,and u have my apologize if this annoying u..


You have many many more people to apologize to then. Judging by the mental level of your posts, I'd say everyone older that 9 years old.

dude ur staff members is not that good that u think they use their permissions in annoying the normal members of this site and a lot of guys outside this site told me about them in the name such like troy, !JOUDE! something like that ,,,and i made this profile especially for them to know their level that makes them make fun on the other guys u have to keep ur eyes on them ,,and am gonna delete my fake profile after these advice ,,and i hope that my massage is delivered...
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03.07.2011 - 20:21
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
A fake profile? are you afraid to make a profile under your own true name and identity? Are you chicken? It certainly seems like it.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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03.07.2011 - 20:25
Rating: 7
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Guest on 03.07.2011 at 20:15

and am gonna delete my fake profile after these advice

No, please stay. I think we have what it takes, something other people don't have...we just connect on a deeper level. I think it could be love.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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03.07.2011 - 20:34
mige
Account deleted
Thank u marcel maybe i am,,,, and thank u troy but am gonna delete it,cuz i have my own metalworld in somwhere else ,but i'll make another fake one cuz something in here is different and i noticed that,,,,,,,, ur review was good and am sorry for my fake comments ,,i think when u grow up u'll have ur own site but u have to learn some respects for the other members in your site...
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03.07.2011 - 20:44
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by Guest on 03.07.2011 at 20:34

Thank u marcel maybe i am,,,, and thank u troy but am gonna delete it,cuz i have my own metalworld in somwhere else ,but i'll make another fake one cuz something in here is different and i noticed that,,,,,,,, ur review was good and am sorry for my fake comments ,,i think when u grow up u'll have ur own site but u have to learn some respects for the other members in your site...


Awww don't go man. Well, I'll cherish the times we shared together. Peace with ya.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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04.07.2011 - 00:30
mige
Account deleted
Thank u Mr.Doctor ,i'll turn this profile to an true one with true identity "because i see that here u can change everything even the e-mail" and i'll add u and troy ,,and i wanna tell u a secrete that's am just 4 years older than u ,that's makes us in same generation ,peace with u too dude

I liked in this site how that's u guys focus on old school metal and new generation of death ,black ,Prog..etc in the same way and ts so close to my own style...

and for all the staff here i wanna say great job guys u'll have ur own touch in metal history...

about me am 22 years old from Middle-East and i have my own page in facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Metal-Em-All/120685741296839
called "Metal'Em All"
and am an admin in another page with group of admins "each one of us from different country" : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Metal-is-my-Life-m/136567706366360
called "Metal is My Life"

btw i shared alot of ur stuff in my page
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04.07.2011 - 07:57
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Haha.

!JOUDE!

Your massage was indeed delivered. Press a bit harder on my back next time pleazes.
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04.07.2011 - 08:41
mige
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 04.07.2011 at 07:57

Haha.

!JOUDE!

Your massage was indeed delivered. Press a bit harder on my back next time pleazes.


!JOUDE! = !JOOE! it's u that who i meant....
and thank u ,am glad that's my massage is delivered ...
btw i posted a mockery comment on ur "DT - We Are The Voids" review but when am done with ur friends here i deleted it , so u r lucky dude
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04.07.2011 - 10:01
Daniell
_爱情_
Mige, you're a weird individual, to say the least.
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30.12.2011 - 00:12
Fredd
Account deleted
The fuck went on on this thread?
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31.12.2011 - 01:55
Rating: 7
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Guest on 30.12.2011 at 00:12
The fuck went on on this thread?

Nothing like Chainsaw Cunt at least.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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31.12.2011 - 02:03
Fredd
Account deleted
Written by Troy Killjoy on 31.12.2011 at 01:55

Written by Guest on 30.12.2011 at 00:12
The fuck went on on this thread?

Nothing like Chainsaw Cunt at least.

Link please
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17.01.2012 - 13:50
Rating: 10
Spanishkiller

Written by Bushwookie on 06.09.2010 at 19:45

Uhm... 6.7? I'd atleast give this album an 8.

Sure, they kind of strayed from their original sound but not too far. I find this is one of those albums that really grow on you..


In fact, this is the Kalmah's album with the most mature sound.
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19.10.2012 - 19:41
Rating: 7
AngelofDeth
Cyborg Raptor
I am so glad I just found that comment frenzy hahaha wtf

Oh and 12 Guage kinda does have to the swamp cuz swamp = hicks and hicks = shotguns.
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pewpew.. gotcha
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20.10.2012 - 00:31
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
That was enjoyable, to say the least.
----
14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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05.01.2013 - 18:13
Rating: 9
Fallen Ghost
Craft Beer Geek
In my opinion, the score given to this album is to low. When it comes to the solos, I think that the solo in "One Of Fail" is brilliant! Really awesome melodies. I enjoyed this album a lot, and really looking forward to the next release
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05.07.2013 - 07:31
Rating: 10
Wes

The score is surely too low I'd say. Now that Swamphony has been released, which I'd say is their best work, I'ts looking like their last 4 albums are all quite varied. I'd say they are all unique at very solid stand alone albums.
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03.10.2016 - 19:26
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Why title is 1th what came in the mind?
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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04.01.2024 - 12:48
Rating: 7
tintinb

Hahaha, this thread was really fun to read. Some of the old metalstorm threads are actually gold.
----
Leeches everywhere.
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05.01.2024 - 07:35
24emd
Theory Snob
Written by tintinb on 04.01.2024 at 12:48

Hahaha, this thread was really fun to read. Some of the old metalstorm threads are actually gold.

Yep, I came from your message in shoutbox. Gotta love trolls and how they give the impression that they are exactly what they're accusing people of
----
"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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